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My favorite thing about returning to in-person instruction has been observing how students have handled school post online learning. I really am impressed with the resilience of this group of students. I am finding that this generation of students is willing to fight for what they believe is right. They challenge you and ask you questions that from my experience as a student, you were never allowed to ask or say to a teacher. But... 
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Q: What has been your favorite thing about returning to in-person instruction/rehearsal? A: My favorite thing has been seeing the students gradually come out of their shells and interact with each other as they used to. A challenge has been modifying rehearsals for outdoor rehearsals. We did this for about a month at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.  Coming back to in-person teaching after the pandemic has been one of the most joy filled, yet challenging experiences I’ve seen in my decade in this position. I wanted to incorporate fresh new ideas to get my students to just BE NORMAL again, while still honoring the challenges they have faced and considering their strengths and needs.  Last year I was on a virtual track teaching a study skills class from home the whole school year. My favorite thing about being in-person this year is just that....being in person! Being able to make music and sing together as a choir again has been a huge improvement compared to the previous year. One of my biggest hurdles are all those students who literally don't want to sing since they didn't sign up for choir. Since I'm in middle school, I've sometimes found it easier to run with the chaos and let them go a little wild if it means they'll actually sing. For example, we're in the middle of doing our regular old warm-ups, when a group of trouble-maker boys start singing (more like screaming at first) the Bob the Builder theme song...this is now one of our favorite and most highly requested warm-ups!  Cricket: Both Jill and I have been part of the Forward Thinking: Women’s Choir Conversations established by Morna Edmundson, director of Elektra Women’s Choir. We traveled to their Tapestry Festival in 2015 - an experience that changed Canzona’s life - and Morna really stepped forward at the beginning of the pandemic to bring together conductors of women’s choirs from Canada and the U.S. We’ve met almost every Tuesday for 50 minutes since June of 2020 - today we’ll be on session #76! Jill and I have made many new friends through this, participated in a 3-way virtual choir project with Mitchell Covington (Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble, Oakland) and Dori Baunsgard from Con Brio Women’s Choir, Seattle. We’re talking about doing a choral exchange in one of our locations. Our topics were pandemic focused at the beginning as we all learned to navigate Zoom and editing virtual choirs, but have branched out into many different aspects of choral leadership and participation.  I currently teach vocal music at University High School in Irvine and one section of choir at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School in Irvine. I LOVE the energy of the classroom and the opportunity to get to know the students as real people. The biggest hurdle for me this year is that I am at a new school after 10 years. With these changes, however, is enormous potential for growth - building relationships, expanding culture and choir opportunities, and continuing to build on the excellence that was in place before I arrived.  |
Molly PetersWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. 
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